Chapter 4: training and cliff hangers
Well Jack thought the quickest way to get up was to walk around the pillar. This way he could get his strength up and also get used to the gravity. He then began walking after 5 minutes he fell down. It took another 5 minutes to get up. He was already covered in sweat by the time he did. This is going to be harder than I thought. Jack then thought to do practice crunches in order to get used to the gravity. He did this for about 6 minutes before he collapsed. The gravity was too much for him. He then said out loud the heck with this and started crawling around the pillar. Though to be frank it was more like a plateau but that doesn't really matter now does it? This time he crawled for about 10 minutes. This gave Jack hope now he knew he could do this eventually. After about an hour of crawling and resting (mostly resting) Nightwing came down with Jacks breakfast Jack thanked him as he flew back up. The breakfast was rice and eggs on top.
"Where did they get the eggs?" He said out loud he discarded the thought 10 seconds later and started eating with the chopsticks he keeps in his infinite pocket. This infinite pocket was a technology developed by the Germans in order to lighten the load on their soldiers. Since it weighs nothing no matter what you put in it. And since it was a pocket dimension you could put a boat in it and everything. Yeah the Germans made it but for some reason the trademark on Jack's pocket had made in Tonga on it. After the war Jack exhausted the supplies in it. Since he never really had any reason to refill fill it. The reason is that he doesn't have a need to since the war is over. And that is why he originally filled it for. After his meal he felt that he had energy again so he started to crawl. This time he did it for about 3 hours. He realized that the more time you stay just in extra gravity you can get used to it. But it doesn't mean that you are getting stronger. Just accessing extra strength in your body which has been stored up. This went on for about 5 months with him crawling and Nightwing bringing him his meals. Then he finally stood up with some effort he yelled in excitement.
"Finally I am making progress now, so now I will walk this time, it will be hard but if I can I will be on step closer to climbing up that stupid cliff, wait why am I speaking out loud?"
Jack may be smart but he doesn't always think. This is because he forgot to take off his training weights he always has on. Those weights weigh about 400 pounds. He didn't even think to take off them off in his earlier battles either. But oh well he got even stronger this way. During this round of going around the Plateau he started to notice other minds inside of him. But he ignored that and assumed it was from all the gravity pushing on his brain (in reality it was partially due to that). This next phase in his training took him twice as long as before to complete before he was able to run. He decided to forgo the celebration this time and start running around. This training took twice as much time as both phases combined. He wanted to make sure he could climb that cliff. Eventually the time came where he was confident enough to climb all the way up the cliff. As soon as he did he began to notice the higher he got up the lighter he felt. He then thought that they tricked him to do all of these rounds in order to get stronger. And of course it worked like they thought it would.
"Well done you finally made it up that cliff. How do you feel?"
"Tired and frustrated but lighter and faster. Not to mention stronger."
"So I guess you also figured out the trick right?"
"Yeah and let me say you are a genius and a demon for making me do that."
"Why thank you Jack now it is time to go onto the next step activating your eye power to 20 percent maximum."
"And how will we do that? And also why only 20 percent?"
"I'm sure you felt the other minds in your head by now those will help you do it. Try talking to them. As for the 20 percent that is all you can do right now and only a Brood Knight can reach maximum potential." Jack was thinking that this guy was crazy.
"Fine I'll try but it better work." He then began to concentrate. "This is ridiculous." He then spoke into his own mind. Hi anybody in here besides me. He heard a no and thought it was him, but heard a snicker after that, he got mad and yelled at the voice in his head "Hey talk to me or your residence is over."
"Fine party jerk, I guess you want to talk to us then right?"
"What do you mean us?"
"I mean this." Jack then lost vision and found himself in a room cut in 3rds. The strangest thing was the 2 other people on two opposite ends of the sections one white and the other black. Well at least their cloaks were those colors. He found himself in the middle of the sections this was colored grey.
"Welcome to the inner workings of your souls." The white one said this
"Yeah welcome, welcome now sit down." The black one said this but for some reason he didn't get angry it felt as though he was insulting himself for some reason.
"Thanks I guess who are you guys?"
"We are your dark and light sides." Said the black one.
"Yes usually people only have one side but since your soul is grey or neutral you would say. You have a dark and light side."
"But you mainly keep in control, by the way what the dragon said you know the big black giant thing whatever he is called. Well He knows the secret to activate the perfect rearing bow."
"And what is that secret? Will you tell me what it is?"
"Yes that is what we are here for. We are to gain permission from you for us both to activate our power. Mind you in separate eyes, that way you don't have to worry about that. But know the true potential you can have is only 60 percent maximum power. Only the blood of a Brood Knight can reach 100 percent."
"Yes that is how it is done, but this will allow you to access the power over light in one eye and the power of darkness in the other."
"Of course you need to practice using us. But you already had some when you did by yourself when activating first stage. We will help in second." Jack was listening to all of this when a question popped in his mind.
"So are you me or do you have separate minds?"
"We are you but different aspects of you." After the white one said this Jack asked "Ok do you have my name or so you have your own names?"
"We have our own, mine is Chaos for the power of darkness!" He said this with a loud yell that echoed in the room.
"Yeah… Mine is elemental for the power of the light."
"Well I guess I am glad to have you aboard guys. Let's work hard."
"Agreed" Said both of them Jack was about to leave his inner self when Chaos spoke up.
"By the way you can combine us when you want. But you need the 60 percent rearing bow which you will have to unlock on your own. How even we don't know but when you do. You will have full control of the soul weapons you will gain from stage 2. Do you understand?"
"Yes I do and will try hard to find a way to do it."
"Good now it is time for you to go. When you want to activate your rearing bow just will it and we will comply see you later. Look out for squirrels!"
"Wait What?" With that he came back to the outside world wondering why squirrels?
"Were you successful?"
"Yes I was wise one but 3 questions, what is your name? What is bad about squirrels? And what is bad about spatulas?"
"Hmm my name is Darkfury and yes as you may have guessed I am the king of the northern dragons. AS for squirrels they are evil little critters always trying to steal you nuts and spoons. But as for spatulas that is something for you to find out" Jack was even more confused now and decided to not question it any further.
"Now I will teach you how to go through dimensions note you can also go through time this way but never alter actual history with this. And try not to meet yourself ok. Just let that ugly devil go alright."
"Fine with me so where do we begin?"
"We start by activating your eyes go ahead." It took a short second for Jack to activate it.
"Well done now imagine 2 circles right in front of you. Swirling one way with darkness. The other swirling with light energy." Jack did this and when he opened his eyes after words a grey vortex opened in front of him. "You have done it now you have to step inside along with Nightwing. And also goodbye it will be awhile before we meet again. But I will wait for that moment. But before you go note that time will be different for each dimension such as it was here. One year could pass for 2 but then a day or second in another."
"Thanks we will keep that in mind anything else?"
"Yes keep your wits about there are different cultures in dimensions make sure to learn them and keep them in mind."
"I will thank you for everything and goodbye for now."
"Father I will send messages through the small dimensional mail portal you made to keep you updated."
"Thanks for that now off you go and be careful. Look out for squirrels, gremlins, bison's, and crazy spatula wielding vampires." They then stepped through the vortex and found a large area swirling with magic energy. And Jack for some reason knew how to make it back to the dragon world and his own inside but he decided not to go back through to his home yet and went on to another path. He then went in another vortex followed by Nightwing. He then felt weightless again and started to fall. Luckily Nightwing was underneath him and he landed in the saddle that was standard for all Dragons and riders. It was made of fine leather tanned and oiled. Not to mention it was quite comfortable and thick.
They were somewhere in a mountain region as far as Jack could tell. But they saw smoke coming from the east.
"Head that way towards the smoke we might find some people there. By the way can you find a place to hide if there is?"
"I know what you are going at but I can just shrink myself to that of a bearded dragon or those lizards you call bearded dragons we just call them lunch. So don't worry about me scarring of any people."
"That is good news now shall we go?"
"Yeah let's head out towards a new world." And with that hey started to fly towards the smoke. As Jack looked at the plants below him he noticed that the plants looked like those in japan. But something was a bit off he saw giant salamanders the size of buses and centipedes that were even bigger. He did not know what was going on. But he knew it was Japan because he flew over the forests of Japan in the war. And so he told Nightwing about his observations including what he knew about the plants and trees of this area.
"Interesting that we would come to a different dimension of this Japon. But I know this is not your japon because you said there are no demons in your dimension. But I smelled them as soon as we got here they are all over the place."
"Hmm seems like we will find out where we are soon enough." As they neared the smoke they saw a burn pile of what looked like demons and beyond that was a medieval Japan looking village. What was strange was the fact that they had electric lights. But as Jack thought on this he decided this Japan didn't have to be exactly like his. They landed outside the edge of the village and then Nightwing shrank himself and jumped into Jacks void pocket with his head sticking out. Then Jack walked to the village.
"HO there stranger what brings you here?" Jack looked up at an old man tending to the roof of his house.
"I am traveling about and happened to stop upon your village. Tell me I saw the burn pile what happened here?"
"Well a bunch of demons attacked but our defenders were able to destroy them. Well most of them the rest ran away back in the forest."
"I see that must've been rough. By the way I need to rest and buy supplies where is an inn I can sleep in?"
"Well that is a big coincidence."
"Why?"
"Because the demons destroyed the inn."
"Darn, oh well thanks anyway"
"Wait stranger maybe you could find a place to rest with the defenders they are always in the mood to help someone. They are to the north of the village just head straight down this road. And as for the store it is right next to the place."
"Really thanks a lot you are a life saver."
"You're welcome young one stop by if you have any questions."
"Sure thing, see you later." And with that Jack walked towards way the old man pointed.
"Hey Jack do we have their currency. And how do we know these defenders are really like they sound like?"
"Well I like to collect antique coins so I have lots of ancient Japan coins as for the defenders we have to try our luck. Also I find it funny how I am actually older than that old man back there."
"You ARE an immortal."
When they arrived at the defenders house or mansion more like it they knocked on the door it was answered by a boy the age of 13.
"May I help you sir?"
"Yes the old man at the eastern entrance of the village told me I could find longing here."
"Oh you mean old man Winta. Well we have some room for now so just follow me to the master and you will make a deal for living space." They followed the boy up to the masters' chambers, where they saw a girl at least 17 years of age. She was Asian with red hair but also had English features with her blue eyes. This was weird to Jack since this was Japan but then again it was a different dimension.
"Master this man needs to have lodging for a few days after traveling for how long sir?"
"I'm guessing about around 20 months now." He was counting all the months he has been gone from his home. THE whole time.
"Hmm I guess you can stay for a while but be warned lots of demons have been showing up lately and we don't know why. We are tired of the constant fighting. So as payment you will help us fight when they come. Is this acceptable?" Jack was wondering about the true extent of his new abilities. And this was a perfect opportunity to test them so he said,
"Yes of course it is I've been training for a while now I want to test my strength any way so this will be a good opportunity."
"Then it is settled." She paused for a little bit then asked
"I almost forgot to ask you your name. Mine name is Rena Tear what is yours?"
"It is Mi…" he stopped because he almost gave his real name. He then answered again
"My name is Jack Rena nice to meet you."
"Jack it is a pleasure to meet you to." Even though she didn't look convinced about his name. So far only 3 people know his true name and those are Acobra, Nightwing, and Darkfury. He wanted to keep his name safe since he lived that way for a long.
But what he didn't get was why he almost gave his name to this stranger. Given she looked kind of cute to him but there was something different about her. He just couldn't find the right words for it. He then heard a whisper. The whisper wasn't Chaos or Elemental is was someone with a much deeper voice.
"Jack look out the true foe approaches." Right after the voice went away a guard showed up.
"MY LADY THEY ARE ATTACKING AGAIN!" Yelled the guard that came in he looked scared and had a cut on his right arm. Jack stood up went over to him and grabbed his arm
"What are you." His words were lost when he saw Jack heal his arm.
"Try not to move it too much but that should do it."
"Seems like you are a magician there Jack."
"I guess you could call me that. But this is not the time to talk I guess it is time for me to fight."
"Yes it is by the way thanks for healing my brother. By the way stop calling me my lady Donzene."
"Yeah sure Rena sorry thanks Jack. Come with me to the area where they are attacking." With that they ran towards the west side of village.